U.S. patent application number 10/278671 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for mop fixture with clamp arm.
Invention is credited to Alexander Scot Young, Ronald.
Application Number | 20040078911 10/278671 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32106590 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040078911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alexander Scot Young,
Ronald |
April 29, 2004 |
Mop fixture with clamp arm
Abstract
A mop fixture for mounting a mop head to a mop handle comprises
an elongate upper clamp base body with a boss for connection to a
mop handle end. A lower swing arm is swingably attached for a
clamping relationship with the clamp base body and retains the mop
head between the clamp base body and the lower swing arm. A latch
end on the swing arm is selectively connectable to the clamp base
body at a latch connection. A latch release mechanism in the clamp
base body is provided for ease of disconnection of the swing arm
latch end from the latch connection for removal and replacement of
the mop head.
Inventors: |
Alexander Scot Young, Ronald;
(Grand Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wm. Bruce Day
Swanson Midgley, LLC
Suite 400
2420 Pershing Road
Kansas City
MO
64108-2505
US
|
Family ID: |
32106590 |
Appl. No.: |
10/278671 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/252
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/150 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/20 |
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent
is:
1. A fixture for mounting a mop head to a mop handle comprising: a.
an elongate upper clamp base body with first and second ends and
with a centrally mounted tubular boss extending upwardly for
engagement with a mop handle end; b. a lower swing arm swingable
into clamping relationship with said clamp base body to hold and
retain a mop head there between, the swing arm having an elongate
portion and spaced, upstanding hinge end and latch ends, the hinge
end swingably connected to said clamp base body first and the latch
end being selectively connectable to said clamp base body second
end; and c. a latch connection at said clamp base body second end
for selective engagement with said swing arm latch end so that said
mop head may be removed and replaced.
2. The fixture set forth in claim 1 including a latch release
mechanism at said clamp base body second end for disconnection of
said swing arm latch end from said latch connection.
3. The fixture set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said swing arm
latch end has a tooth and ramp; b. said latch connection has a
cross piece for snap-in engagement with said tooth; and c. said
release mechanism includes a lever and a nose portion engageable
with said ramp so that as said lever is swung open, said nose
portion pushes against said ramp to disconnect said tooth from said
latch connection.
4. The fixture set forth in claim 1 wherein said swing arm hinge
end and latch end extend upwardly from said elongate portion to
form a space between said clamp base body and said swing arm for
receipt of said mop head, and spikes extend upwardly from said
swing arm elongate portion for protruding into said mop head.
5. The fixture set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular boss has a
plurality of longitudinal vanes and basal arcuate sections sized
for snug fitting into a hollow end of said mop handle.
6. A fixture for mounting a mop head to a mop handle comprising: a.
an elongate clamp base body with first and second ends and having a
centrally mounted tubular boss extending upwardly and
perpendicularly to the clamp base body, the boss having a diameter
sized for fitting inside a hollow end of a mop handle end with
exterior contact vanes and arcuate buttresses engaging said mop
handle hollow end; b. a lower swing arm swingable into clamping
relationship against said clamp base to hold a mop head
therebetween, the swing arm having a hinge end swingably connected
to a first end of the clamp base body and an opposite toothed latch
end selectively connectable to a second end of the clamp base body;
and c. a latch connection at said second end of the clamp base body
and having a crossbar for said toothed latch end of said swing arm
to snap over and a swingably mounted disengagement lever adjacent
said crossbar and which bears against said toothed latch end to
disengage same when said disengagement lever is swung open.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to fixtures for mounting mop heads
and in particular, is directed to a mop fixture designed for ease
of removal and replacement of the mop head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Mop fixtures are used to connect a mop head to a mop handle.
The mop head is the fabric or yarn part generally consisting of
gathered lengths of yarn or strips of fibrous material which are
absorbent and used for cleaning. The fixture may be integrally
attached to the mop head and/or the fixture may be permanently
attached, such as by staple, to the mop handle. These are usually
disposable mops and are inexpensive. Higher quality mops feature
removable and replaceable heads and a better quality fixture able
to withstand extended use. Usually, these mop fixtures have been
made of metal with a top bar and a lower clamp portion which fits
beneath the center of the mop head so that the gathered mid-portion
of the head is captured between upper and lower clamp components.
The fixture is often detachable from the handle to reduce shipping
bulk and is often frictionally engaged or has a screw-on connection
to the mop handle. Mop fixtures have been made of plastic material
of sufficient sturdiness to withstand heavy duty use as a mop. A
benefit of a plastic mop fixture is obtained through fewer parts in
the manufacturing process. Also, plastic tends to present a cleaner
and more sanitary appearance, there being no tendency to rust or
otherwise corrode, as is common in long use metal fixtures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a mop fixture which is
selectively attachable to a mop handle and in which a mop head can
be easily installed, then removed, and replaced as necessary. The
mop fixture is preferably a sturdy plastic material and includes an
upper clamp base and a lower swing arm hingeably mounted to one end
of the clamp base. The other end of the swing arm includes a latch
part which connects with a latch mechanism in the mating end of the
upper clamp body. The latch portion and the latch mechanism snap
together so that the mop is firmly held within the clamping
arrangement of the mop fixture. A release mechanism, generally
including a release lever, is situated adjacent the clamp parts of
the clamp body and when the release lever is rotated, the latch
parts are urged apart so that the swing arm opens and the mop can
be removed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The objects of the present invention are:
[0005] 1. To provide a mop fixture by which a mop head can be
easily removed and replaced;
[0006] 2. To provide such a mop fixture which is readily and firmly
attachable to a mop handle;
[0007] 3. To provide such a mop fixture which is capable of
receiving a variety of mop heads;
[0008] 4. To provide such a mop fixture which is well-adapted for
the intended purpose.
[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description which provides a
disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the mop fixture shown
connected to a mop handle and having a mop head connected.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing operation of the
mop fixture.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mop fixture.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the mop fixture.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mop fixture.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an opposite side elevational view of the mop
fixture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention
is disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention which may
be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and
functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as
limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0017] Referring to the drawings in more detail:
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a mop fixture 1 is affixed to a mop
handle 2 and attaches a mop head 3 so that the assembly can be used
for cleaning purposes. The mop handle 2 is generally elongate and
preferably has a hollow end at the attachment juncture with the mop
fixture 1. The mop head 3, in the illustrated example, is shown to
be an assemblage of rolled or folded absorbent fabric ribbons which
depend in two halves from the fixture 1. The mop head 3 is
connected at its mid-portion to the mop fixture 1. Other suitable
mop heads include those made out of coiled windings of thick mop
yarns, strips of synthetic sponge material, and the like.
[0019] The mop fixture 1 is preferably formed of a relatively stiff
plastic and has an upper clamp base body 5. The body 5 is elongate,
oriented transverse to the length of the mop handle 2, and has
first and second ends 6 and 7 with a centrally mounted tubular boss
9 extending upwardly. The boss 9 is sized to fit inside the hollow
end of a mop handle 2, has a molded reinforcing ring base 10 and
upstanding vanes 11 extending longitudinally along the boss 9 and
positioned at 120 degree arcs. Basal arcuate sections 13 stand up
from the ring base 10 and extend circumferentially around the boss
9 and provide an outer surface coincident with the edges of the
vanes 11 to provide a tight, friction fit engagement with the
interior wall of the hollow end of the mop handle 2. Adhesives may
be used in the handle/fixture connection.
[0020] The clamp base body first and second ends 6 and 7 slope away
from a thickened middle of the base body 5 and terminate in end
portions attaching a lower swing arm 15 to the body 5. The upper
clamp base body second end 7 comprises a hinge end to which the
lower swing arm 15 is mounted for swinging movement. The hinge
components consist of a pin end 16 formed on the swing arm 15 and
which is received in slots 17 and retained therein by over-centered
teeth 18 at the entrance to the slots 17 so that once the pin end
16 is inserted, it cannot be removed. A recess 20 is formed in the
second or hinge end 7 of the base body 5.
[0021] The lower swing arm 15 is somewhat U-shaped and has an
elongate mid-portion 22 and spaced upstanding hinge and latch ends
23 and 24. The length of the hinge and latch ends 23 and 24 space
the mid-portion 22 from the upper clamp base body 5 a sufficient
distance to accommodate the thickness of the mop head 3. The
mid-portion 22 is preferably formed thicker so as to resist
deformation and has a plurality of upstanding teeth 26 which
project into the mop head 3 and secure it. The latch end 24
terminates in an in-turned notch 28 with a ramp 29 to the
termination. The first end 6 of the clamp base body 5 is the latch
end and includes an end cross-bar 32 backed by a slot 33. Fastening
the swing arm latch end 24 into the clamp base body latch end 6 is
easily done by merely swinging the swing arm 15 upwardly until the
notch 28 slips over the cross-bar 32 and resiliently rebounds
inwardly in a snap fit.
[0022] To disengage the latch end 24, the mop fixture 1 is
preferably provided with a release mechanism 25. In the illustrated
example, the release mechanism is a means that includes a release
lever 37 contained in a recess 38 and swingably mounted by an
off-set hinge pin 40. The release lever 37 terminates in a nose 42
protruding beyond the hinge pin 40 so that as the release lever 37
is rotated upwardly, the lever nose 42 swings downwardly upon the
tooth ramp 29, urging the notch 28 outwardly from the cross-bar 32
to disconnect the latch end 24.
[0023] In use, the mop fixture 1 is fitted to the end of a mop
handle 2 as described and the mop head 3 is connected into the mop
fixture 1. Various types of mop heads may be used, and when soiled
or worn-out, the mop head 3 may be removed and replaced. Removal is
easy by simply lifting up on the free end of the release lever 37
which causes the swing arm latch end 24 to disengage. The swing arm
15 can be swung downwardly and the mop head 3 removed. Replacement
of the mop head with a new or clean one is also easily accomplished
by merely placing the head spread out on the swing arm 15 and then
swinging the arm upwardly until the notch 28 of the latch end 24
snaps into position.
* * * * *